DTL Ch 13 part 3

PR by neji

“It’s snowing again. This year’s winter is disgustingly long, isn’t it?”

Hyejin, whose belly was now the size of a mountain, stood in front of the window as she laughed. YeonJung put the cut stems of her blooms into a plastic bag. If she wanted to make it in time, she needed to clean up quickly. Since SeonJae said he’d be here by seven, he’d be here very soon.

“YeonJung-ssi, how are you these days? How are things with President Min SeonJae?”

Hyejin walked over to the worktable. Possibly due to the extra weight, she placed both hands on the surface. After the incident with YeonJung’s illness, Hyejin’s opinion of SeonJae significantly improved. After the wedding exhibition, it reached its peak. DongHoon was still very careful when discussing SeonJae, but Hyejin didn’t hold back as she showered him with praises. According to her, he was able to make a comeback from the hand he was dealt thanks to his own skills. When all was said and done, she came to the conclusion that he was one of the most capable men she’d ever met.

‘And whenever he looks at YeonJung-ssi, honey drips out of his eyes. Women know how men are. And they’re especially good at noticing when a man takes care of his woman very well. Right now, if you bring someone else in front of Min SeonJae, he probably won’t see anyone but you.’

With Hyejin’s eyes sparkling like a little child, YeonJung couldn’t lie to her. But she also couldn’t tell her the truth, so she merely gave her an awkward smile.

“We’re… just groh-wing closer now.”

This wasn’t a lie. After the incident at the street stall and the police station, once she had become one with SeonJae as they shed their tears, things had begun to change.

Whenever she was out with him, furtive gazes seemed to follow them. It was even more severe when he had been in a suit, but this fashionable man seemed to draw eyes wherever he went.

The two of them dated without paying any heed to other people’s gazes. On weekends, they’d go to a cafe and discuss the movie they’d just seen for hours on end. He’d often lower his head and place a kiss on her head. He’d earnestly stare at her face so that he wouldn’t miss anything. Then he’d slowly lean in and give her a quick peck on her lips.

“Pee-ple ah-re watching!”

“That’s why I did it.”

“Ah-re yoo an attention hog, SeonJae-shi?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do yoo like attracting pee-ple’s attention?”

Although she was looking up at him with a grave expression, SeonJae opened his lips and burst out laughing before softly stroking her head. When she saw the gleeful expression on his face, she couldn’t help but chuckle as well. That’s how they began dating after their reunion.

Last week, SeonJae found a delicious traditional Korean restaurant, so they had dinner there. Afterwards, they bought some ice cream, and she visited his apartment for the first time. It wasn’t big, but it was cozy. As soon as she entered inside, her mouth opened in shock.

Right in the middle stood a rather large, familiar, orange tent. It looked to be twice the size of the one she had owned. She wasn’t sure, but it looked big enough for a party of four.

“‘Dat’s…”

“Whenever I have a hard time falling asleep, I find it to be quite soothing to lie down in there. It also reminds me of the past.”

YeonJung blinked as she looked up at him.

“Shall we watch a movie?”

Looking a bit embarrassed, SeonJae guided her to the sofa. They ate their ice cream as they watched the movie side-by-side. It really felt like they’d gone back in time. She remembered how they’d eat the delivered food that didn’t seem to suit someone like him in his office apartment. It seemed that she wasn’t the only one who couldn’t focus on the movie. Unable to sit still, SeonJae would hold and let go of her hand repeatedly.

Chu. He placed a kiss on her cheek, and she felt as if the skin where his lips had touched had been burned. She found the sight of him licking his dry lips so cute that she couldn’t help the laughter that escaped from her own lips.

“Huh?”

Suddenly, something popped its head out of the large orange tent in the living room. It nimbly jumped out and began to walk over to them. As soon as she saw the cat, YeonJung brought both of her hands to her lips. The cat watched her with wary eyes as it made its way to SeonJae and jumped on his lap. Rather than a sense of disappointment, she thought it was rather funny to see that this alley cat had finally become a proper housecat. She began to laugh. He laughed with her as he lightly stroked the cat’s glossy fur.

“It only seems to look for me when it’s hungry.”

The day she had somewhat recovered from her cold, he had told her that he needed to step out in order to take care of a friend’s meal. It turned out that he had been talking about the cat. YeonJung spread out her arms and wrapped them around his neck.

For the past two years, he had taken care of the cat. The rascal that had been a starving alley cat now had a plump belly. Surprised by the sudden movement, the cat jumped down from the sofa. SeonJae’s lips stole hers as if he’d been waiting for her. As their kiss deepened, her body was slowly lowered onto the sofa. The events that followed proceeded as expected.

Recalling how they had made love on the sofa without completely taking off their clothes, YeonJung’s cheeks flushed. She couldn’t meet Hyejin’s eyes. As soon as she packed her bag and was about to exit through the door, she saw SeonJae waiting for her through the snow.

“It’s cold… Why ah-re yoo waiting outside?”

“It’s not cold. Let’s hurry. Before it gets dark.”

She got inside SeonJae’s car. Two warm cups of coffee were waiting for them in the cupholders. She could see the steam rising in the cold air.

“Where ah-re we going?”

“You and I received an invitation.”

“From… hoo?”

“You’ll know when we get there.”

The car raced down the freeway for a long while. The snowflakes were growing larger as they fell down from the sky. They were now driving along a rugged mountain road in the countryside.

“Where ah-re we…?”

An old couple greeted YeonJung as she looked around with wide eyes. SeonJae lowered his head as he greeted the couple. He grinned when he saw her reaction.

“They are the clients for the 50-year anniversary vow renewal I told you about. They asked that you come with me the next time I visited.”

The grandmother with completely white hair guided them to the back yard. She placed a grill on top of the campfire that was burning there. As she brought out the meat that had already been prepared in the kitchen, SeonJae put on some cotton work gloves and began grilling the meat as if he’d done this many times before. While she was surprised to find out that the couple was deaf, she was even more shocked to see that SeonJae seemed to completely understand their sign language.

After they finished having dinner, they sat on the heated wooden floor of a room as they watched the snow falling down from the sky through the open door. The sky looked like it had been taken out of a picture. SeonJae gently stroked her hair.

“…When did yoo learn sign lang-guage?”

“Just in my spare time. I can’t speak it perfectly yet, but I can kind of understand what they’re saying.”

She turned her head and looked at him. She saw that the corner of his mouth had slightly lifted up. She asked another question.

“SeonJae-shi, yoo are quite unfair sometimes, yoo know ‘dat?”

“Why?”

He turned his eyes to her. His smile remained on his lips. The grandmother served them some green tea. He handed a cup to YeonJung as he asked again.

“Why am I unfair?”

“Bee-cause yoo surprise pee-ple.”

Tears began to form in her eyes for no particular reason. This house in the countryside that seemed to have popped out of a fairytale. The warm eyes of the elderly deaf couple. This very moment as he looked at her with such a breathtaking expression on his face as he handed her a cup of tea. YeonJung was choked up from all of it.

“Since I’m already acting unfair, can I go a bit further?”

She laughed as she nodded. SeonJae drew in a deep breath and stared at her for a while. Doubt filled her eyes as she noticed the anxiety in his expression. His large hand swept back the hair that had fallen over her forehead. Then he slowly held up both of his hands and began to speak with them.

‘Will you marry me?’

YeonJung froze. Her hands trembled as they held the cup of tea. Snow had piled on top of the ceramic pots in the yard. His hands began to move clumsily again, but they were clear.

‘Marry… me.”

The bridge of her nose wrinkled. It felt as if someone was tickling her nose, so she blinked. Haa. White fog puffed out of her YeonJung’s lips. SeonJae licked his lips as he waited for her answer.

“Do you… understand me?”

YeonJung looked at him as she nodded. He swallowed and asked her again.

“And your answer is…?”

YeonJung’s pale hands began to move in the air. SeonJae understood the sign language and let out a sigh of relief. Then he laughed.

“I couldn’t find a ring that would suit your hand.”

“……”

“I’m serious.”

He quickly added when she didn’t respond.

‘This man really studied sign language. He understood me.’

A tear trickled down from her eye. Seeing this, the man slowly raised his hands.

‘Grandmother. Grandfather. Until. We become. You. Me. Together. Stay. I wish.’

His voice, which she couldn’t hear, was burned into her mind. He was currently creating a ruckus in her world with only his hands.

He was truly unfair. She didn’t have the courage to reject the world’s most perfect proposal. Her racing heart told her that she wanted to be with him as well. She brought her lips to his face and kissed him. SeonJae’s hand wound around her hips.

Once the door was closed, a blanket had already been spread out in the boiling hot room. A pleasant scent wafted from the thick bedding. SeonJae slipped his hand underneath her sweater. His lips rubbed against the nape of her neck. After unhooking her bra, her shy breast was soon captured within his hand.

“You haven’t given me an answer yet.”

He climbed on top of her and murmured as he licked her lips. Her nearly translucent skin was flushed red. SeonJae softly rubbed her nipple between his fingers, and a sighing moan burst out of her lips.

“Let’s get married, YeonJung. Marry me.”

She liked seeing his anxious face, and her whole body was overcome with arousal. However, she didn’t give him a reply. SeonJae’s hand traveled lower and slipped inside her skirt. After moving the sliver of fabric to the side, his large hand spread out over her mound. Then his hand parted her lower lips and found the round nub hiding within. He began to lightly taunt it with his fingers.

“Hnng…”

“Don’t close your eyes. Look at me.”

A sticky fluid began to drip out of her entrance and drenched his hand. His hand moved more boldly. Cautious but precise, his finger plunged into her. Once he brushed against a specific spot, YeonJung widened her lips and let out a cry that sounded like it came from a baby bird.

“Are you going to answer me now?”

His laughter sounded wicked. Overcome by embarrassment, she bit her lower lip.

“You don’t know what kind of sounds you’re making, do you? Do you know how much it shakes me to the core?”

After he murmured the words, he leaned back over her and tangled their tongues together. As his fingers moved deeper inside, she grew even wetter. YeonJung’s bare chest shook as she gasped for breath.

“Hmm!”

Having reached a weak climax, YeonJung’s moan seeped out from between their lips. Gazing down at her with loving eyes as she slightly trembled underneath him, SeonJae’s expression betrayed his desire. He straightened up and took off his pants. His cock, which had been straining against his underwear, found its freedom at last.

“Let’s get married, YeonJung. With me. Hm?”

He slowly penetrated her drenched entrance. Once they were perfectly one, he asked again. With her arms wound around his neck, she gave him a faint laugh.

“Sounds… good.”

“Really? I won’t ask you twice. You gave me your answer. Now you really can’t get rid of me.”

“Even if I sed no… I don’t think it wood have mah-ttered…”

While crushed underneath him, her lips curled into a teasing smile. SeonJae pressed a kiss onto her forehead. Then their lips tangled together once again as his hips began to pump furiously. Her body was perfectly ready to receive him as it enveloped him.

“Hng! Haa…!”

“I love you. I like you so much I think I’m going crazy, YeonJung.”

As he buried himself deep within her, he confessed several times. YeonJung panted as she wrapped both of her hands around his cheeks. She stroked his thick brows that were twisted with desire. She began to speak to someone in her heart.

I don’t hate you for taking away my hearing.

Because I have never experienced a world with sound… Because I’ve never had it…

But this man is different. I’ve gone and found out what it feels like to be loved.

If you take this man away from me, I will curse you forever.

YeonJung raised her head and whispered into his ear.

‘I love you, SeonJae-ssi. I love you, too.’

Suddenly, the man’s body stiffened before it trembled. Even after having spent himself inside her, he didn’t leave her body for a long while. Almost as if he were afraid everything would disappear like a wisp of smoke if he left her, he embraced her over and over again.

* * *

“Nowadays, whenever I see YeonJung-ssi’s face, it’s screaming ‘I’m dating!’. I’m totally jealous right now. I’m over here carrying a maternity bag home, only to be considered cold rice when the child comes. I’m so sad.”

Hyejin laughed as she pushed a cup of tea over to YeonJung, whose eyes were glued to her phone. Ten days were left until the scheduled day of birth. After a few runs to the hospital in the middle of the night due to false labor pains, Hyejin kept complaining that she wanted the child to come out a bit sooner.

“How do yoo feel?”

“Mm, it hurt a bit after lunch, but I’m okay now. This isn’t the first time this has happened. Aah, I really wish the D-day will come sooner.”

Hyejin tapped her swollen belly with her finger. YeonJung also wanted to see her child as soon as possible. They said it was a daughter. If she took after her mother, she would be so tiny and cute.

“When… will DongHoon-shi… come?”

YeonJung chuckled as she asked.

“I’m not sure. Because his flight was canceled, he said he’ll come back on the first plane tomorrow morning. I’m not sure why it’s snowing so much this year.”

“Let us… take yoo home.”

“It’s okay. Our place is really close by. And didn’t you say you and your lover have a concert to go to tonight? Ah, my stomach. YeonJung-ssi, I’ll be right back. I need to go to the bathroom.”

Hyejin gripped her hip and dragged her heavy body to the bathroom. YeonJung quickly sent SeonJae a text.

[Can we drop off Hyejin-ssi at her house before we head over to the concert? I’m sure you’re in the middle of driving, so don’t send me a reply. Just wanted to let you know. ^^]

[I just got here. Does that mean I can’t give you a kiss inside the car? I don’t like that.]

Although they were only texting, she could almost imagine him lifting a brow as he said this. YeonJung laughed. She finished cleaning up the office and packed her bag, but she still didn’t hear any word from Hyejin who had gone to the bathroom. YeonJung glanced up at the clock and walked down the corridor. She opened the door.

“Haa… YeonJung-ssi…”

Hyejin leaned her back against the wall as she panted. YeonJung’s heart sank to her stomach. Surprised, she rushed over to Hyejin. Her sweater was drenched in sweat.

“Hyejin-shi… Ah-re yoo… okay?”

“What… should I do…?”

“For now… L-Let’s get bah-ck to…”

YeonJung’s face paled as she watched Hyejin gasp for breath. After bringing her back into the office, she placed Hyejin on the sofa. Hyejin opened her eyes with much effort.

“I… I think I have to go to the hospital, YeonJung-ssi. The pain… Huu… The pain is getting closer and closer together. Ah…”

Hyejin was unable to finish speaking and grabbed her stomach. What rotten timing. This was all happening when DongHoon was away on a business trip. Because of the unusually heavy snow, his flight had been canceled, so he was stuck in place. Hyejin grasped her heavy stomach and frowned.

“Yes, oh-kay. Please… Please wait ah moment.”

YeonJung gestured to Hyejin to wait and ran down the stairs. She didn’t have time to push the elevator button. After opening the glass door, she ran over to SeonJae who was waiting by the car. When he saw her frazzled face, he gave her a startled look.

“What is it? What’s the…”

“Help…”

Her voice wouldn’t leave her throat. YeonJung grabbed his hand and dragged him inside. SeonJae didn’t know what was going on and seemed flustered, but he silently followed her. As they ran up the stairs, cold sweat ran down YeonJung’s back. When they opened the door, they found Hyejin lying on the sofa as she took in deep breaths. Her round stomach undulated as if it were about to burst.

“Aah… Aagh…”

Hyejin began squirming in pain. There was no need for YeonJung to explain this situation.

“Are you okay? Do you think you can sit up?”

SeonJae quickly ran over to her as he asked. Drenched in sweat, Hyejin leaned against him.

“Take her bag and press the button for the elevator!”

SeonJae yelled out to YeonJung. YeonJung nodded and grabbed her purse along with Hyejin’s bag and ran outside.

“Let’s get her to my car.”

After helping Hyejin out of the elevator, SeonJae fished out his car keys and opened the car door.

“Which hospital is it?”

YeonJung rummaged through Hyejin’s bag and pulled out the hospital’s business card and handed it over to SeonJae. Before he got into the driver’s seat, he put his hand on YeonJung’s cheek and opened his mouth.

“Sit in the back and stay with her. You can do it, right? Leave the driving to me. I’ll take you guys to the hospital as carefully as I can, okay?”

YeonJung blinked her large eyes and nodded. It was absolute chaos right now, but knowing that someone was here with her brought tears of relief to her eyes. She quickly got in the back seat. SeonJae hurriedly turned on the engine, and the car departed. Hyejin took in deep breaths. YeonJung pulled the seat belt and secured her in place before grabbing her hand.

“Look at that… She takes after her father… so she’s very impatient… We still had over a week left, but… Aah… It hurts like crazy, YeonJung-ssi. Huu…”

YeonJung couldn’t even imagine the pain she was going through right now.

“Huu… Ho, huu… Like ‘dat, Hyejin-shi… Deep… breaths…”

YeonJung stammered as she looked at her. Hyejin grit her teeth, seemingly experiencing another contraction. She continued to breathe in and out in rapid succession. Hyejin widened her mouth. It looked like she was screaming. SeonJae turned around. Hyejin’s brow twisted as she squeezed her eyes shut. Hyejin’s grip tightened on YeonJung’s hand.

“YeonJung-ssi… I… Aah… I think my water broke… Ugh…!”

Something trickled down her leg and drenched the leather seats. YeonJung widened her mouth in surprise and met SeonJae’s eyes. The roads were packed in preparation for the weekend, and they were currently stopped at a traffic light.

“At this rate, it’ll take us twenty minutes to get to the hospital. I’ve already called the hospital.”

He must have been as bewildered as she was because this was the first time they had experienced something like this. However, his calming attitude seemed to soothe her as well. Hyejin grabbed the hem of YeonJung’s clothes and let out a pained groan. Hyejin was screaming something, but YeonJung couldn’t understand. She leaned over to the driver’s seat and called out his name.

“SeonJae… SeonJae-shi… Wha… What did Hyejin-shi just say…”

“She thinks… She thinks the birth canal has opened. Her water broke. She’ll probably…”

SeonJae moved his lips precisely.

“She thinks she may end up giving birth before we get there.”

No way. But that’s what he said. YeonJung was filled with dread as she shook her head.

‘I can’t do this. I can’t. Someone save me. I can’t do this!’

She burst into tears, but SeonJae grabbed her hand. His earnest eyes said it all.

‘You can do it, YeonJung.’

YeonJung looked back. With her legs spread apart, Hyejin was groaning as she gripped her stomach. The traffic light turned green. SeonJae turned around and began to drive again. YeonJung grit her teeth and took a deep breath.

She had to do it. The person who had helped her at her moment of need was now in need of her help. YeonJung unclipped Hyejin’s safety belt with a trembling hand. Her legs were already spread open. YeonJung pulled up her skirt and lowered her underwear.

“Here… Hyejin-shi… This… side.”

Thankfully, the back of the car was spacious. After having Hyejin lay down at an angle, she took out a clean towel from Hyejin’s bag and spread it out under her. After bending her knees, Hyejin went into labor in earnest. The temperature inside the racing car grew feverish.

“Yoo can… do it, Hyejin-shi…”

Hyejin’s forehead was dripping with sweat, but they couldn’t open the window in fear of the cold air getting in. YeonJung steadied Hyejin’s hips and grit her teeth whenever another contraction came. Baby, please. Please do your best.

“Uh…”

Although she couldn’t hear, YeonJung’s other senses were heightened. The dampness in the air, the beads of sweat rolling down Hyejin’s forehead as she groaned, the goosebumps running down her legs. She felt them all so clearly that her body began to shake. How long had Hyejin screamed and groaned in pain? Eventually, YeonJung saw something small and black appear between Hyejin’s legs. Her head went blank.

“I… I see her… Hyejin-shi… Th-The baby’s head…!”

YeonJung asked her to push a little more. The mother and YeonJung were both sobbing at this point. Hyejin arched her back one more time. As the head was pushed out, the small body of the baby slid out soon after. 

The new baby was very small, red, and hot. YeonJung held the living baby in her two hands. She didn’t have time to marvel at the wondrous birth of a new life. YeonJung was shaking from the situation she had never experienced before.

“Haa… Wha… What do I doo…”

Splayed on top of the seat, Hyejin took the baby. A tear trickled down her cheek. Now that she had finished giving birth, she sat up. Then she flipped her baby so that its head was facing the floor. It was all maternal instinct. Seeing this, YeonJung’s chin trembled. An unknown dread filled her body. She barely managed to speak up, but she successfully asked Hyejin her question.

“Th-The baby… is it… oh-kay?”

Hyejin softly patted the baby’s back as her lips stretched into a smile on her messy face. It was the world’s happiest smile.

“Yeah… She’s crying… YeonJung-ssi… The baby…The baby is crying like crazy right now… Thank you, YeonJung-ssi. Thank you so much.”

YeonJung wanted to smile back at her, but she couldn’t. The mother of the newborn baby wasn’t the only one who was drenched. YeonJung’s bra and underwear were completely drenched in sweat. The car finally came to a halt. The door quickly opened, and the doctor and nurses ran over to them with a stretcher. They busily moved Hyejin and the new baby onto the stretcher and carried them inside. It all happened very fast.

“YeonJung.”

Getting out of the driver’s seat, SeonJae walked over to the back and embraced her. As soon as she felt his touch, tears welled up in her eyes as if she’d been waiting for him.

“Good job. You did such a good job. You’re amazing.”

“Ugh…”

SeonJae repeated this several times as he soothed her, but YeonJung couldn’t smile. Snap. She felt as if something had cracked inside her, and a wretched cry tore out of her throat. She cried inside SeonJae’s embrace for a long time.

“It’s alright. It’s okay now, YeonJung.”

He stroked her head as he tried to soothe her, but the suffocating feeling and the dread didn’t leave her body. The moment she held the baby in her hands, something burst out and began to torment her.

As soon as the baby was born, only one thought popped into her head. Would her own baby be normal? Would there be sound in the baby’s world? Until now, she had never thought about something like this. However, a nervous feeling began to eat away at her heart. YeonJung held onto the hem of SeonJae’s clothes and continued to wail.